Santiago Wanderers from Chile advanced this Tuesday to phase 3 of the Libertadores Cup, where they will face the Colombian Santa Fe or the Venezuelan Táchira, after defeating Melgar from Peru 0-1 in Arequipa with a great goal from midfielder Marco Medel at the end of the first half.
In a match with great physical display and a lot of enthusiasm from both teams, but also loaded with imprecisions, the Chilean team prevailed thanks to a shot launched at the 44th minute from outside the area by Medel, which left goalkeeper Diego Penny with no chance.
Melgar couldn't take advantage of the 2,300 meters of altitude in the city of Arequipa and looked imprecise, nervous, and with few ideas to solve a game in which they had the advantage of the 1-1 tie achieved in the first leg.
The first minutes of the game allowed us to see a very aggressive Santiago Wanderers and by the 10th minute Medel showed his danger by sending a shot that had to be cleared by Narváez on the line when goalkeeper Penny was defeated.
Melgar, who showed serious problems to stop their rival's onslaughts, was only able to balance the game around the 15th minute, led by Bernardo Cuesta, their most dangerous attacking player.
Despite the effort, only at the 30th minute the locals had a clear chance, when Cuesta received a cross from Villamarín and sent it too high when pressed in marking.
The Peruvian team had a couple more chances to take the lead, the first one from the Mexican Tejeda, who sent a cross that no one could reach to add, and another one from Cuesta, which was well saved by the Chilean goalkeeper.
However, when the 44th minute was being played, and everyone was expecting the halftime, Medel appeared to take advantage of a lapse in the local defense and from outside the area sent a high shot that stuck in Penny's goal.
Under pressure from the result, Melgar accelerated in the second half in search of the equalizer, but lacked clarity to solve the numerous options they had in front of Viana's goal.
Tejeda, Villamarín, and Loyola all failed in their final touches, and even at the end goalkeeper Viana stretched to the maximum to prevent Cuesta's header from going in.
The clearest chance, however, was in Viotti's feet, who wasted the opportunity to seal the score for Wanderers by trying to place a shot against an exposed Penny.
After Tuesday's result, Santiago Wanderers will face the winner of the match between Colombian Independiente Santa Fe and Deportivo Táchira in phase 3 of the Libertadores.
Lineups - Melgar vs Montevideo wanderers
0. Melgar: Diego Penny; John Narváez, Paolo Fuentes, Minzum Quina, Giancarlo Carmona; Alexis Arias (Kevin Ruiz, m.72), Omar Tejeda (Emanuel Biancucchi, m.76), Patricio Arce, Jean Fuentes; Joao Villamarín (Nilson Loyola, m.59), and Bernardo Cuesta. Coach: Enrique Meza.
1. Santiago Wanderers: Mauricio Viana; Juan Soto, Mario López, Ezequiel Luna, Bernardo Cerezo; Adrián Cuadra, Luis García, Matías Fernández, Marco Medel (Sebastián Rivera, m.82); Enzo Gutiérrez (Mauricio Gómez, m.88), and Reiner Castro (Rafael Viotti, m. 60). Coach: Nicolás Córdova.
Goal: 0-1, m.44: Medel.
Referee: Brazilian Ricardo Marques Ribeiro expelled Carmona at the 88th minute for a second booking. Showed yellow cards to Luna, Viotti, and Fuentes.
Incidents: Second leg match of phase 2 of the Libertadores Cup played at the Monumental Stadium of the Universidad Nacional San Agustín in Arequipa. EFE